Numbers 24

1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorcery as on previous occasions, but he turned his face toward the wilderness.

And when Balaam had seen that it was pleasing to the Lord that he should bless Israel, he by no means went out as he had gone before, to seek divination. But directing his face opposite the desert,

2 When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him,

and lifting up his eyes, he saw Israel dwelling in tents by their tribes. And with the Spirit of God rushing into him,

3 and he lifted up an oracle, saying: “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,

taking up his parable, he said: “Balaam, the son of Beor, the man whose eye has been obstructed,

4 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:

the hearer of the sermon of God, he who has gazed upon a vision of the Almighty, he who falls down and so his eyes are opened, has declared:

5 How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel!

‘How beautiful are your tabernacles, O Jacob, and your tents, O Israel!

6 They spread out like palm groves, like gardens beside a stream, like aloes the LORD has planted, like cedars beside the waters.

They are like forested valleys, like gardens irrigated next to rivers, like tabernacles which the Lord has fixed, like cedars close to waters.

7 Water will flow from his buckets, and his seed will have abundant water. His king will be greater than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted.

Water shall flow from his jar, and his offspring shall be amid many waters, because Agag, his king, shall be taken, and his kingdom shall be removed.

8 God brought him out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox, to devour hostile nations and crush their bones, to pierce them with arrows.

Away from Egypt, God has led him, whose strength is like the rhinoceros. They shall devour the nations that are his enemies, and break their bones, and pierce them with arrows.

9 He crouches, he lies down like a lion; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you and cursed are those who curse you.”

Lying down, he has slept like a lion, and like a lioness, whom no one would dare to awaken. He who blesses you, shall himself also be blessed. He who curses you, shall be considered cursed.”

10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times.

And Balak, being angry against Balaam, clapped his hands together and said: “I called you to curse my enemies, and, to the contrary, you have blessed them three times.

11 Therefore, flee at once to your home! I said I would richly reward you, but instead the LORD has denied your reward.”

Return to your place. I had decided, indeed, to honor you greatly, but the Lord has deprived you of the designated honor.”

12 Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not already tell the messengers you sent me

Balaam responded to Balak: “Did I not say to your messengers, whom you sent to me:

13 that even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD? I will speak whatever the LORD says.

Even if Balak would give me his house, filled with silver and gold, I still could not go away from the word of the Lord my God, so as to offer anything, either good or evil, from my own heart; but whatever the Lord will speak, this, too, I shall speak.

14 Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.”

Yet truly, as I continue on to my own people, I will give you counsel as to what this people shall do to your people in the end times.”

15 Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying, “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,

Therefore, taking up his parable, he again spoke: “Balaam the son of Beor, the man whose eye has been obstructed,

16 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:

the hearer of the sermon of God, he who knows the doctrine of the Most High, and who sees the visions of the Almighty, who, falling down, has his eyes opened, has declared:

17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth.

I shall see him, but not presently. I shall gaze upon him, but not soon. A star shall rise out of Jacob, and a rod shall spring up from Israel. And he shall strike down the commanders of Moab, and he shall devastate all the sons of Seth.

18 Edom will become a possession, as will Seir, his enemy; but Israel will perform with valor.

And he shall possess Idumea; the inheritance of Seir shall fall to their enemies. Yet truly, Israel shall act with strength.

19 A ruler will come from Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city.”

From Jacob will be he who shall be ruler. And he shall perish the remnants of the city.”

20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Amalek was first among the nations, but his end is destruction.”

And when he saw Amalek, taking up his parable, he said: “Amalek, first among the Gentiles, whose very end shall be perdition.”

21 Next he saw the Kenites and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Your dwelling place is secure, and your nest is set in a cliff.

Likewise, he saw the Kainites, and taking up his parable, he said: “Robust, indeed, is your habitation. But though you will set your nest in a rock,

22 Yet Kain will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive.”

and you will be elect among the stock of Kain, how long will you be able to remain? For Assur shall take you captive.”

23 Once more Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Ah, who can live unless God has ordained it?

And taking up his parable once more he said: “Alas! Who will be able to survive, when God will do these things?

24 Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus; they will subdue Asshur and Eber, but they too will perish forever.”

They shall arrive in Greek warships from Italy. They shall overcome the Assyrians, and they shall devastate the Hebrews, and yet, at the very end, even they themselves shall perish.”

25 Then Balaam arose and returned to his homeland, and Balak also went on his way.

And Balaam rose up, and he returned to his place. Likewise, Balak went back, along the way by which he had arrived.